U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared an X post this week from Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Sean Parnell regarding the removal of Colonel Susannah Meyers, commander of Pituffik Space Base in Greenland.
“Actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President [Donald] Trump’s agenda will not be tolerated at the Department of Defense,” said Parnell in the Thursday post. It also included a screenshot of a Friday press release from Space Operations Command Public Affairs.
According to that release, Meyers “was removed from command by Colonel Kenneth Klock, commander of Space Base Delta 1, on April 10, 2025 for loss of confidence in her ability to lead,” and Colonel Shawn Lee has assumed command.
Military.com reported just hours before the announcement that Meyers had sent an email to base personnel in March that distanced herself from Vice President JD Vance’s criticism of Denmark’s control of Greenland during a visit to the base. Previously, Audacy has reported on Trump’s offer to buy Greenland from Denmark and both Greenland and Denmark’s lack of interest in the proposal.
“Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” said Vance during his trip to Pituffik Space Base.
Meyers “sent a March 31 message to all personnel at Pituffik seemingly aimed at generating unity among the airmen and Guardians, as well as the Canadians, Danes and Greenlanders who work there, following Vance’s appearance,” Military.com said. It read, in part: “I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the U.S. administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base,” per the report.
This message was a “rare pushback,” to the Trump administration’s criticism of North Atlantic Treaty Organization members, the outlet noted.
Meyers assumed command of the 821st Space Base Group last summer, according to a Facebook post from the Pituffik Space Base. She succeeded Col. Jason Terry, who was in the position for about a year. Per the New York Post, she had a long career in the Air Force before she took command of the 821st Space Base Group.
Air & Space Forces Magazine reported Friday that “Parnell did not respond to a request for comment when asked if Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth personally ordered Meyers’ removal.”
Earlier this month, Audacy reported on Hegseth’s move to require “sex-neutral” fitness tests for all combat roles in the military. That, along with some of the secretary’s past comments, have made some concerned that he does not want women to hold certain military positions, especially combat roles.
Military.com noted that other high-profile military leaders who have been fired since Trump took office, including some without any public reason provided. The outlet said Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown, the Navy’s top leader Adm. Lisa Franchetti, and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Slife are on the list.
Hegseth also ordered the termination of $5.1 billion on Department of Defense contracts this week, he said in a video posted to X Thursday. He said cuts were part of the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) efforts to reduce government spending and that they were for “ancillary things like consulting and other non-essential services.”